Caribbean Networkhttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl
Caribbean NetworkTue, 14 Aug 2018 19:28:48 +0000nlhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8Reforestation effort set in motion on Statia, while goats devour the islandhttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/08/13/reforestation-effort-set-in-motion-on-statia-while-goats-devour-the-island/
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 19:21:13 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2386DEN HAAG – Almost a year after hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean municipality of Statia, the island is receiving 800.000 euros from the Hague to restore the damaged environment. More plants are to be planted, while free-roaming goats continue to devour the island. Hurricane Irma, and Maria caused major damage to the environment around the... Read more »]]>

DEN HAAG – Almost a year after hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean municipality of Statia, the island is receiving 800.000 euros from the Hague to restore the damaged environment. More plants are to be planted, while free-roaming goats continue to devour the island.

Hurricane Irma, and Maria caused major damage to the environment around the island. A lot of big, and historic trees were uprooted, possibly leading to higher temperatures and further erosion. These are the fears of the National Parks Foundation, STENAPA. Additionally these issues are being exacerbated by large herds of goats, and cattle that roam freely around the island, and leave in their wake a barren landscape.

A large portion of the funds that the organization will be receiving, has been allocated towards the reforestation effort. Local trees are to be grown in greenhouses, and replanted in the historic center of town and the surrounding neighborhoods. This time around the trees will be fenced off to protect them from the livestock, according to STENAPA.

Funds to tackle the issue of the free-roaming livestock have not been allocated in this round of subsidies. “The reforestation-project is only one part of the solution to restore the environment, the other issue that has to be dealt with is the free-roaming livestock”, according to the director of STENAPA, Clarisse Buma.

The problem just keeps on growingA notable detail is that for the past few years, Statia has been receiving money to take care of the free-roaming livestock issue. The goats who graze on the cliffs are causing erosion, which can lead to life-threatening situations for inhabitants, and tourists alike. The STENAPA building recently got struck by a boulder which came loose. A bit further down the cliffs, one can find restaurants, hotels, and parking spots.

Erosion is also threatening the historic fort, which is the property of the Dutch State. “Electric fencing was put up around the fort to deter the goats but they can still be found on the cliffs”, says Buma. “People say that the fence is not electrified.”

Dealing with the goats

Central government commissioner Mike Franco, who has been tasked by the Dutch government to ensure the continuity and stability of public services, acknowledges that ‘for a long time, nothing has happened’ and that there are still goats roaming around the island.

According to a spokesperson for Franco they are “working towards a situation where, one by one, every single animal is tagged. The animals have to be kept by their owners within the confines of their properties, and when that doesn’t happen the owners will be fined.”

330.000 euros have been allocated towards the reforestation effort, according to the decree obtained from Minister of State Raymond Knops (Kingdom Affairs). He wants to see results by the end of 2019.

Division of the 800.000 euros allocated for the environment

331.485 euros for reforestation

129.900 euros for the water supply to agrarian companies

118.220 euros for the improvement of the agriculture, livestock, and fishery industries

90.855 euros for the restoration of corals

37.450 euros to repair the moorings and buoys in the marine park

35.670 euros for the repair of the botanical gardens

25.800 euros for the restoration of the sea turtle breeding program

25.800 euros for the repair of the wall behind the STENAPA building

4.820 euros for the preservation of the endangered iguana species

]]>Dancehall: What’s the deal with the sexist, and homophobic lyrics?https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/08/08/dancehall-whats-the-deal-with-the-sexist-and-homophobic-lyrics/
Wed, 08 Aug 2018 15:52:13 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2379AMSTERDAM – “Well, inna bed, weh man and woman shoulda hug and caress. So fire bun di people weh deh with the same sex.” This is a lyric from the dancehall hit ‘Nuttin No Go So’ from the Jamaican artist Norman Howell, also known as Notch. He is not an exception to the rule: dancehall... Read more »]]>

AMSTERDAM – “Well, inna bed, weh man and woman shoulda hug and caress. So fire bun di people weh deh with the same sex.” This is a lyric from the dancehall hit ‘Nuttin No Go So’ from the Jamaican artist Norman Howell, also known as Notch. He is not an exception to the rule: dancehall music, which is loved by many in the Caribbean, is littered with sexist, and homophobic lyrics.

For a while in the nineties it looked as if there would be a change in this practice when gay-rights groups called for an international boycott of dancehall artist who sang homophobic lyrics, or ‘murder music’ as the groups called it. Due to these boycotts well-known dancehall artists such as Buju Banton (Boom Boom Bye), and Beenie Man (Batty Man Fi Dead) saw their income, and popularity drop significantly in certain countries.

Gay-rights groups have also made their voice heard on the Dutch Caribbean islands. One example of this is when the group T.O.K. was set to perform in Aruba back in 2016. After the activists got involved, the group was banned from playing homophobic songs such as ChiChi Man at the Flip Flop Festival.

But even though the artists were boycotted by festivals, and their income dropped not much has changed over the years when it comes to the lyrics, according to Jamaican gay-right groups such as Outrage!, and J-Flag. That’s why nowadays gay-rights groups would much rather engage in conversation, or organize events with a statement such as ‘Pon de Pride’.

By Natasja Gibbs (English subtitles available)

]]>Research into murder and deadly gang violence on the islandshttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/08/06/research-into-murder-and-deadly-gang-violence-on-the-islands/
Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:43:34 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2375LEIDEN – Why do so many homicides occur on the Caribbean islands? And how can this number be lowered? With the help of a new database, researchers are hoping to find the answers to these questions. It could help the justice, and police departments on the islands to lower these numbers. “The preliminary numbers show that... Read more »]]>

LEIDEN – Why do so many homicides occur on the Caribbean islands? And how can this number be lowered? With the help of a new database, researchers are hoping to find the answers to these questions. It could help the justice, and police departments on the islands to lower these numbers.

“The preliminary numbers show that the number of homicides are ten to twenty times higher than in the Netherlands. That number is huge in proportion to the population of the islands”, says researcher Marieke Liem, who is leading the research.

The database, which the University of Leiden will set up, is for all of the six islands within the Kingdom. The database will contain important information about the cases, victims, perpetrators, their criminal history, and their convictions. “The results of the research will be used on the islands, and in the Netherlands to investigate and prosecute the suspects”, according to Liem.

Less murders in a few years?
According to the researchers, this project is ‘essential’ if the Netherlands, and the islands wish to adapt their policies so as to lower the murder rates. “The justice, and police departments can only do so much with just the rough numbers”, so says Liem.

Gangs in the NetherlandsThe researchers are curious about the relationship between the Netherlands, and Curaçao when it comes to murders. “With the database one could potentially see how the conflicts migrate. Additionally one could see if the murders that occur within the Dutch Caribbean community within the Netherlands are related to conflicts on the islands.”

Expectations are high at the Justice Department

The database is ‘a very positive development’, according to Attorney General Roger Bos. The top brass within the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Curaçao, Sint-Maarten and the three Caribbean municipalities expect to catch criminals faster with the use of the new database.

“A suspect who wishes to hide in the Netherlands will be exposed quicker due to the database” according to Bos. The Justice Department expects that the database will also help prevent the movement of criminals within the different parts of the Kingdom.

“The Justice Department in Curaçao will also develop additional insight in to areas that need to be focused on”, says Bos. The benefits? “Only when a comparison has been made can we say what the benefits are.”

Imported homicides?There can also be another explanation for the high murder-rate on the islands, warns Liem. The so-called imported homicides out of neighboring countries such as Venezuela. “In some areas, and countries in Europe, such as Montenegro, criminals congregate to close deals. As a consequence, you see that a lot of hits occur in these places.”

Important
Such a database already exists in the Netherlands, and it is very useful. “The Dutch police doesn’t have a single overview. You have to go to the Public Prosecutors Office, the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Council for the Judiciary, and seven other organizations to get a proper overview”, according to criminologist Marieke Liem.

]]>Serving meals on Sint-Maarten: ‘Yes, fruits and vegetables’https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/08/03/serving-meals-on-sint-maarten-yes-fruits-and-vegetables/
Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:24:54 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2364PHILIPSBURG – The devastating hurricane Irma, which pounded the Leeward Islands last September, also left a mark on the lives of DJ Jansen, and Joost de Jong. They desperately tried reaching friends, and family from their home-base in the Netherlands. After this the couple launched helpsxm.org, and decided to sell all of their possessions in... Read more »]]>

PHILIPSBURG – The devastating hurricane Irma, which pounded the Leeward Islands last September, also left a mark on the lives of DJ Jansen, and Joost de Jong. They desperately tried reaching friends, and family from their home-base in the Netherlands.

After this the couple launched helpsxm.org, and decided to sell all of their possessions in the Netherlands to start a food share program on Sint Maarten.

Free meals
While Joost de Jong stayed in the Netherlands to see the sale of their house in Sleeuwijk through, DJ Jansen left for Sint-Maarten last month. He hoped to start building the foundations for the Freegan Food Café, an initiative which hands out free meals in neighborhoods where the effects of hurricane Irma can still be felt.

Just before I left, I started panicking. “I thought to myself: what am I getting myself in to? More than two months without Joost. I must be crazy!”

Cooking five days a week for five weeks
However he was determined when he got to Sint Maarten. “Joost and I were on Sint Maarten in February to help with food distribution. We had started a collection in the Netherlands, and were planning on cooking three hundred meals during three days. On the first day we were asked if we could cook fifty meals for an elderly home, and sixty meals for an emergency shelter. We ended up cooking five days a week for five weeks.”

‘A year after the hurricane, there are still people without a roof on their house’

It was a shock to see how slowly the island is being rebuilt, says DJ. “Now, a year after the hurricane, there are still people without a roof on their house. Whole families live in deplorable conditions. It’s just sad.”

Handing out meals out of the back of a SUV
After returning to the Netherlands, the idea to move to Sint Maarten for a longer period of time, and distribute food started to creep up. DJ said that he could count on the support from donors, and volunteers.

“This is exactly how Joost and I imagined it could be: supermarkets who donate a portion of their perishable goods, tourists who help out in the kitchen for a few hours, and volunteers who help distribute the food in the neighborhoods.

‘Yes, fruits and vegetables, that’s what people say’

The meals are one hundred percent plant based. “I prepared myself for push-back, negative remarks, but I haven’t heard any yet.” Says DJ. “Everyone is happy with the meals we provide. ‘Yes, fruits and vegetables’, that’s what people say. You can see that people need it, a healthy meal. The need is very real.”

Donations
DJ receives more, and more donations: clothing, and shoes from the Red Cross. And supermarkets are donating dog and cat food. “I feel so thankful, and very fortunate,” says DJ. “It’s a blessing for all of us.”

]]>European Parliament wants Dutch Caribbean citizens at EU-pollshttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/08/02/european-parliament-wants-dutch-caribbean-citizens-at-eu-polls/
Thu, 02 Aug 2018 13:13:32 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2357THE HAGUE – A think-tank, lobbying group, and even a parliamentary motion have all been put in play this year to get the Dutch Caribbean citizens to the polls in May 2019 to vote for the members of the European Parliament. But why exactly, and how will it benefit them? “These are extremely important elections”,... Read more »]]>

THE HAGUE – A think-tank, lobbying group, and even a parliamentary motion have all been put in play this year to get the Dutch Caribbean citizens to the polls in May 2019 to vote for the members of the European Parliament. But why exactly, and how will it benefit them?

“These are extremely important elections”, so say the members of the ‘Caribbean think-tank’. “Especially now that the electorate has grown in Bonaire, Statia, and Saba, and that they have a tighter bond with the European Union. They have to let their voice be heard in Brussels.”

By Natasja Gibbs

Both the Caribbean special interest group, the Dutch Caribbean Consultative Body (OCaN), and the Europe House, the representation of the European Commission, and Parliament in the Netherlands want to attract more Dutch Caribbean citizens to the polls.

According to the chairman of OCaN John Leerdam, one thing has been made abundantly clear by the research, and that is that “the Dutch Caribbean people are terrible at showing up for elections. During the last European Parliamentary elections in 2014, the turnout rate under Dutch Caribbean individuals was truly abysmal, and was below 30 percent.”

Not popular throughout Europe

It’s not only the Dutch Caribbean population that lacks an interest in the European Parliamentary elections, the turnout rate for the elections that take place every 4 years usually stays under the 50 percent for the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. During the last elections in 2014, a new low was reached. Only 37,32 percent of the Dutch population showed up to vote, while the European turnout rate averaged 42,54 percent.

As per Leerdam “the only time the Dutch Caribbean citizens showed up for the elections in higher numbers than usual was back when two Arubans ran for office.”

‘Europe seems too distant for most people, this is especially true for our Caribbean compatriots’

According to Gohar Karapetian, lecturer and PhD candidate in constitutional law at the University of Groningen, the low turnout rate is because “Europe seems too distant for most people, this is especially true for our Caribbean compatriots.”

This is a shame according to Karapetian, because the EU influences our daily lives through the Parliament. “More involvement from the Caribbean Union citizens in the EU means that their wants and needs would receive higher recognition in Brussels.

To bring the EU closer to the citizens of the Dutch Caribbean, OCaN wants the EU to open a Europe House on Curaçao. Additionally OCaN wants a minimum of 3 Caribbean candidates slated higher up their respective lists for the upcoming elections to attract the Dutch Caribbean voters. Who those candidates would be, remains to be seen, but the lobbying effort to attract those candidates is already underway: “we are already looking for candidates.”

‘We have approached various political parties in the Hague, with the request that they bring forth a motion to parliament’

The other step that is underway is a parliamentary motion. OCaN had the following to say about it: “We have approached various political parties in the Hague, with the request that they bring forth a motion to parliament. The purpose of this motion would be to make it possible for the citizens living on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao to receive their voting passes directly at home, instead of having to pick it up at the Representative of the Netherlands on their respective islands.

This already happened during the Parliamentary elections on the special Caribbean municipalities of Bonaire, Statia, and Saba in 2014. However the turnout rate was still extremely low at 2 percent for Bonaire, 7 percent for Statia, and 14 percent for Saba.

What benefits do the islands receive from being a member of the EU?

Next to being Dutch nationals, the citizens of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands are also citizens of the European Union. This European citizenship extends, amongst other things, the following rights to its citizens:

Freedom of movement. The right to travel freely within the member states of the union, and settle within them.

The right to universal suffrage, and the right to run for office for the European Parliament, and municipal elections.

The right to protect the diplomatic, and consular institutions of all States.

The right to appeal to the European Parliament, and the right to address the European Ombudsman.

The islands also have a right to financial help from the European Union. For the period starting in 2014, and ending in 2020, the following amounts have been reserved per island (in millions of euros):

Curaçao 16,9

Aruba 13

Sint-Maarten 7

Bonaire 3,9

Saba 3,5

Sint-Eustatius 2,4

]]>HIV taboo: “Not less of an issue in the Netherlands than in the Dutch Caribbean”https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/07/25/hiv-taboo-not-less-of-an-issue-in-the-netherlands-than-in-the-dutch-caribbean/
Wed, 25 Jul 2018 00:51:31 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2347AMSTERDAM – The film ‘Aan Niets Overleden’ premiered last week in the Netherlands. It is the first film by the Curaçaoan actor, and director Raymi Sambo. Sambo touches upon a sensitive subject with this film, namely the taboo surrounding HIV, the virus which if left untreated, can lead to AIDS. This week in Amsterdam scientist,... Read more »]]>

AMSTERDAM – The film ‘Aan Niets Overleden’ premiered last week in the Netherlands. It is the first film by the Curaçaoan actor, and director Raymi Sambo. Sambo touches upon a sensitive subject with this film, namely the taboo surrounding HIV, the virus which if left untreated, can lead to AIDS.

This week in Amsterdam scientist, policy-makers, healthcare workers, and activists from around the world will come together for the International AIDS Conference. The British prince Harry, princess Mabel, and President Bill Clinton will all attend to show that together we can rid the world of AIDS by 2030. With such a major international event, one might be tempted to think that HIV’s no longer a taboo in the Netherlands but “ that’s not the case” says Reina Foppen from the HIV Vereniging in the Netherlands.

“The taboo surrounding HIV is not only found on the Caribbean islands, I experience it on all islands, even on Texel.”

Foppen, who has been living with HIV herself for close to thirty years, has stated that “more than fifty percent of the HIV positive individuals in the Netherlands are negatively impacted by the stigma that still exists around this chronic ailment”.

“Parents who for example don’t want their child playing with a HIV positive child. Our society still has a long way to go when it comes to this particular aspect. We’ve made enormous leaps on the medical front, but are lagging behind on the societal one. And that I can tell you, is very sad.”

Foppen has also noticed that the taboo surrounding HIV is alive and well on the Dutch Caribbean islands. “The taboo surrounding HIV is not only found on the Caribbean islands, I experience it on all islands, even on Texel. It has to do with the island mindset that everyone knows each other. It even goes so far that Dutch Caribbean individuals who are HIV positive, and living in the Netherlands, keep their status hidden. They are afraid that the information might make its way back to the islands, and that it might have unintended consequences for their families.

Hiding your status can also have consequences according to Foppen. “You can grow old with HIV, but you will have to take medication for the rest of your life to ensure that the virus remains undetectable. You can have healthy, HIV negative children, and you can’t transmit the virus to your sexual partners. Taking your medication diligently becomes harder when the people in your vicinity don’t know that you’re HIV positive. I know individuals that hide their status from their partners out of shame or guilt. They hide their pills in the shed, or in their work bags.”

Foppen states that by hiding your status you not only put an immense pressure on your medication intake schedule, but also on your emotional, and social wellbeing.

“Research has shown that HIV positive individuals who can speak openly about their status, can weather negative commentary about their status much better than those who can’t. These individuals also tend to be happier in life. The people in their close vicinity are essential to their emotional protection.”

“Thanks to medication you can now grow old with HIV, and you can even have healthy children. A lot of people still do not realize this.”

Foppen sees a long way to go when it comes to the acceptance of HIV positive individuals in society. “It still starts with the spreading of information. Repeating simple facts such as: you can’t get HIV from simply playing with each other, or from a toilet seat, or a mosquito.”

The HIV Vereniging also provides recently diagnosed individuals with peer-counseling, and workshops if they feel like they need it. The contact with other HIV positive individuals offers great support, and usually helps them along the road towards acceptance. The association advocates for these kinds of support systems to become a standard practice of care for specialized treatment within the health care system.

“However, we also have to share more of the good news”, says Foppen, “that thanks to medication you can now grow old with HIV, have sex with your partner without transmitting the disease, and that you can even have healthy children. A lot of people still do not realize this.”

]]>Caribbean community angry about statements Blok: Apologize and resignhttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/07/20/caribbean-community-angry-about-statements-block-apologize-and-resign/
Fri, 20 Jul 2018 12:59:33 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2340THE HAGUE – ‘The Minister of Foreign Affairs is unworthy’, according to the Dutch Caribbean Consultative Body (OCaN) regarding the statements made by Minister Stef Blok (VVD) about Suriname and the multicultural society. The foundation demands excuses on behalf of the Caribbean community and a meeting with the government. Blok said last week during a... Read more »]]>

THE HAGUE – ‘The Minister of Foreign Affairs is unworthy’, according to the Dutch Caribbean Consultative Body (OCaN) regarding the statements made by Minister Stef Blok (VVD) about Suriname and the multicultural society. The foundation demands excuses on behalf of the Caribbean community and a meeting with the government.

Blok said last week during a private network meeting that he does not know a country with a multi-ethnic or multicultural society, where the original population still lives and where there is a peaceful bond. Blok also called Suriname a ‘failed state’ and he stated that ‘it is probably genetically determined that we are not able to connect with people unknown to us’.

In retrospect, the minister said he had used “terminology that was too harsh” and he “regretted that he had caused offense”.

‘Apologies cannot camouflage the lack of knowledge and historical awareness of this minister’

Despite Blok’s regrets, the outrage is still great, also on Curaçao. The Curaçao Minister of Health, Suzy Camelia-Römer, for example, wonders how a minister of foreign affairs, of a kingdom consisting of four countries with a multi-cultural society, can come to such statements.

“Curaçao alone consists of a mix of ethnicities, cultures and religions that all live together in harmony,” says Camelia-Römer. “There is clearly a lack of cultural and historical knowledge by Blok and apologies cannot camouflage this, it’s better he resigns.”

‘We are stunned and wonder if he can remain as minister’

John Leerdam, the OCaN chairman, has also questioned the suitability of Blok for this position. “We are dumbfounded and wonder if he can remain as minister”, he said.

The foundation wants to have a conversation with the Dutch cabinet. “We want to know how we can move forward with each other. Everything that has been built up in the last 75 years has been destroyed by these statements”, Leerdam concludes.

Statements made by minister Stef Blok – source: Zembla (Dutch spoken)

]]>More awareness needed on how to deal with addiction and domestic violencehttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/07/14/more-awareness-needed-on-how-to-deal-with-addiction-and-domestic-violence/
Sat, 14 Jul 2018 05:46:04 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2333THE BOTTOM – How do you deal on a small island with alcohol, drugs and domestic violence where everyone knows each other. More awareness is needed, acknowledges governor Jonathan Johnson. “Social control has changed over the years in Saba, being a part of the broader world, with social media and such people are more focused... Read more »]]>

THE BOTTOM – How do you deal on a small island with alcohol, drugs and domestic violence where everyone knows each other. More awareness is needed, acknowledges governor Jonathan Johnson.

“Social control has changed over the years in Saba, being a part of the broader world, with social media and such people are more focused inward than looking after each other.”

Also the social benefits are low, there are housing problems that prevents victims of domestic violence step out of their situation, says social worker Marva Simmons.

by Tim van Dijk

]]>Coast Guard has not yet recovered from hits Hurricane Irmahttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/07/05/coast-guard-has-not-yet-recovered-from-hits-hurricane-irma/
Thu, 05 Jul 2018 20:58:51 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2327THE HAGUE – The hurricane season may have started, but the Coast Guard has not yet recovered from the damage caused by Hurricane Irma. Minister of Defense Ank Bijleveld announces that the material only will be fully in order again this autumn. Among other things, the IT system was hit hard and has not yet... Read more »]]>

THE HAGUE – The hurricane season may have started, but the Coast Guard has not yet recovered from the damage caused by Hurricane Irma. Minister of Defense Ank Bijleveld announces that the material only will be fully in order again this autumn.

Among other things, the IT system was hit hard and has not yet recovered, according to Minister Bijleveld on Wednesday to the House of Representatives. According to the minister, the jetty and lift is also in the process of being fixed, but they will not be ready until the early autumn.

In September 2017, the hurricane caused around one million USD in damages to the Coast Guard. The building was also badly damaged and two speedboats were destroyed.

Money comes from reconstruction fund
The damages sustained by the coastguard are paid with money from the reconstruction fund, Bijleveld said. Another 4.74 million euros from the reconstruction fund will be used to strengthen the border control of St. Maarten.

Surprised
Coalition party D66 reacts ‘surprised’ to the Minister’s announcement that funds for the coastguard and border control are being taken from the reconstruction fund for St. Maarten. According to parliament member Salima Belhaj, the party assumed that the border control and ‘the role of the coastguard was only an important condition’ for the fund.

According to the Minister, the reconstruction fund of 550 million euros is meant for both damage repair and tighter border control, “Because otherwise you will never get it done.”

Border control
The Coast Guard will sail and fly more often to St. Maarten due to the extra budget. In the coming months, among other things, mobile radars will be purchased and more people will be hired. According to Bijleveld, the St. Maarten police, customs and the Royal Marechaussee also receive extra funds thanks to the reconstruction fund.

]]>Cabinet comes with measures against poverty on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatiushttps://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2018/07/04/cabinet-comes-with-measures-against-poverty-on-bonaire-saba-and-st-eustatius/
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 18:55:40 +0000https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/?p=2320THE HAGUE – The benefits and basic pension on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius will increase as of 1 January 2019. The Dutch cabinet has announced the long-awaited plan against poverty in the Caribbean municipalities on Friday. The government is coming up with a package of measures to reduce poverty and improve employment after a... Read more »]]>

THE HAGUE – The benefits and basic pension on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius will increase as of 1 January 2019. The Dutch cabinet has announced the long-awaited plan against poverty in the Caribbean municipalities on Friday.

The government is coming up with a package of measures to reduce poverty and improve employment after a report from the research agency Regioplan.

No less than forty percent of all households surveyed in the study indicate that they have debts and are struggling every month. These households are often helped by others with, for example, a dinner. Virtually all benefits will go up: unemployed, disabled, single people with a basic pension and parents with children will receive more money as of January 1st, 2019. More measures will follow in 2020.

Independent living in the community: those who do not have an income and live independently will receive a lot more money as of January 1st. Social security per island was about 25 percent of the minimum wage and that will increase to 55 percent next year.

Those who do not live independently and collect welfare, will receive the same amount from January onward.

The child allowance will increases with fifty percent: On January 1st, 2019, that will be 60 USD. per month and from 2020 that will be 62.50 USD.

Fridge: whoever earns the minimum wage or less, can ask for a reimbursement, for example, to buy a refrigerator, bed, stove, and washing machine. That arrangement will soon apply to a larger group of people. The limit is ‘temporarily’ increased to 120 percent of the minimum wage.

According to secretaries of state Tamara van Ark (Social Affairs and Employment) and Raymond Knops (Kingdom Relations) to Parliament, thanks to the research, the Cabinet has gained ‘more insight’ with regard to the cost of living on the islands.

In 2020, Van Ark wants to investigate whether social security and the minimum wage is sufficient in order to make ends meets on the islands, she writes in an explanation of the measures that the government wants to take.

Retirement: a pensioner who is single and is entitled to the basic AOV pension will receive more. A surcharge may be introduced from 2020 onward.

There will be a new form of rent subsidy. With this, the government wants to stimulate social housing.

Calling becomes cheaper: the cabinet wants to change the telecom law and regulations.

Illness and disability: In about a year and a half, those who can no longer work due to illness can count on a substantially larger social benefit, equal to the statutory minimum wage.

Extra money for the youth: extra money is available to improve the quality of childcare and after-school care. The cabinet’s main goal is to reduce the costs of childcare.

Secretary of state Knops emphasizes that, in order to improve the situation on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius, the plans also require additional efforts from the authorities on the islands.

Out of patience

Secretary of state Van Ark publishes her plan at the very last moment. Both in the Senate and the House of Representatives ran out of patience because the publication of the report and the measures was repeatedly postponed. She has until July 1st to complete it.

In 2015, the Spies commission already concluded that poverty on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius has increased since 2010, when the islands became special municipalities of the Netherlands. Both the current and the previous cabinet first wanted to wait for extensive investigation before re-establishing the level of social security.